Beam



BEAM

Filed April l0, .191.8

@ELI

Nnv. 18 l924- 1,516,480

, H. L. WHETTEMORE BEAM Filed April 1o. 1918 s shea -sneen 2 Nov. 1s,Y1924. 1,516,480

H. L. WHITTEMORE BEAM Filed April lO 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov.18, 1924.

HERBERT L. WHITTEMORE, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GOVERNMENT 0F THE UNITED STATES.

BEAM.

Application led April 10, 1918. Serial No. 227,652.

To (LIZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IIERBERT L. WHITTE- MORE, of New York city, in `thecounty of New York, and in the State of New York, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Beams, and do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention has been to provide an element for metallicframes and a beam and rudder frame formed from such element, which,while adapted for many other uses, are especially adapted for use inairplane frames, and which shall have, among other advantages, those ofgreat strength relative to their weight, of being substantially asstrong as wood for the' same weight, and being cheaply and convenientlymade, and to such ends my lnvention consists in the beam hereinafterspecified. In the accompanying drawings- Fig. l is a side elevation of abeam embodying my invention;l

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal, sectional view on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional view taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one member of the beam of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a rudder post and rib embodying my invention,and a brace adapted to connect said rib with another r1b;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of Flg. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showp ing the parts separated;

Figs. 9, 1() and 11 are enlarged views of the brace shown in Fig. 8, andrespectively g showing such brace in top, side and end elevations; and,

Fig'. l2 is a sectional v1ew of Fig. 7 on the line 12-12 showing themanner of connecting the ,brace to the rib.

While I shall illustrate my invention by the best embodiment thereofknown to me, such embodiment is to be regarded as typical only of manypossible embodiments, and my inventionl is not to be -confined thereto,but my claims are to be given the broadest possible scope consistentwith the prior art.

More specifically, my obJect has been to rovide an element adapted to beused by ltself as a beam, made of metal, or to con:-

'such element shall be useful both as a rib and as a brace connecting apair of ribs. It has been desired to adapt said constructions especiallyto be made from sheet metal, and particularly from sheet metal ofuniform thickness.

I shall first describe the use of my element in the form vof a compositebeam, and will later describe its use as a rib and brace in theframework of an airplane rudder. in the illustrated embodiment of myinvention in which the element is used to form a composite beam, thebeam is formed, in effect, as a hollowl metal shell substantiallyrectangular in cross-section. More particularly, the beam consists ofopposite bases l and 2 in the form of channels, which are united bylattice Works 3 and 4 which are more or less integral with saidchannels.

.For convenience of manufacture, I prefer to divide the beam into twoelements, each of which consists of a channel portion or portions whichare formed integrally with one of said lattice portions. In the presentinstance, the beam is divided into two sections by forming the latticeportion 3 integrally with the channel'l, and the lattice ortion 4integrally with the channel 2. The lattice 3 consists of diagonalmembers l, that is, members which project at an anle to the channelbases l and 2 instead of parallel thereto, as shown in Fig. l, and whosefree extremities ll are secured to the channel 2 as by rivets 5 orwelding. The members of the bracing are beaded or dished at 6, so thatthey are V`shape in cross-section, the angle within the V preferablybeing approximately 60. The members 1c of lattice 4 are preferablyconnected with each other and with the channel l by webs 1d in theangles between them. The channels are preferably corrugated as shown, asthis gives the channels greater compressive strength.

Tests have shown a beam constructed as illustrated to be of suchstrength as to be capable of withstanding, as successfully as a wooden.beam of the same weight, all of the severe stresses to which beams aresubjected in airplane frames.

In the use of my element in the frame of an airplane rudder, asillustrated in F igs. 6

\ to 12, a rudder post formed of a D-sliape piece of tubing 7 ispreferably used. I desire to form a rudder brace which shall sustain arib 8 by being secured upon the rudder postf The requirements forsecuring and sustaining the rib upon the rudder post, under theseconditions, are severe. The rib must be lso securely fastened to therudder post that when the rudder post is turned, the structure shallwithstand the tension tending to pull the rib away `from the rudder poston the side toward which the rudder is turnin and the compressiontending to crush t e rib into the rudder post on the opposite side ofthe rudder. I provide a clamp 9 which is to'y clamp the rudder post, andto which the rib is to be fastened. This clamp consists of a U.shapeband9a having wings 9b formed on the ends of the band, as by being bentat right angles to the sheet metal of the band, and having shoulders 9cformedv at the inner'ends of the wings, as by bending up the metal ofthe wings. The rib consists of one ofmysaid elements formed of twochannels 11.0; connected by a lattice work 11 that is preferably formedintegral therewith.

j The lattice work consists 4of digaonal members .12 which are dished orbeaded at 12a, similarly t0 the diagonals shown in Figs. 1

' to 5, except that in the case of the one element used alone and havingthe two channels, as in the rudder brace, the diagonals are preferablydished inward instead of outward, for in that position the dishin orbeading is more in lme with a strain ten ing to force the twochannelstoward each other, which is the Strain to which `some of the latticemembers are most subjected, except at the point of its connection withthe rudder ost. p The sheet metal between the channels is not cut awayat the end ad'acentthe rudder post and is formed into a'lip 13 at rightangles to the plane of the rib, and adapted to rest against the adjacentplane surface of the rudder post, and the channels are extended into twostrips 14 that are adapted tol extend around the clamp, as later to bedescribed. In assembling thel clamp and rib on the rudder post, theclamp is passed over the rudder post, and the free ends of the clamp aredrawn together. The clamp is so proportioned that when these free endsare drawn together suiiciently so that the rib can be forced over them,the clamp will very tightly grip the rudder post. The rib is forced homeuntil its lip 13 rests against the face of the rudder post, and thestrips 14 extending from the channels are laid along .the band of theclamp, and the parts v,are

fiat face of the rudder post. I preferably f form a bead 15 in the sheetmetal extending across between the channels in front of the rudder post.

There are usually two or more ribs in a rudder frame, and I connect themby a brace 16 which may be formed like the ribs of two channelsconnected by lattice work, except that there is preferably al latticemember 17 perpendicular to the channels where the brace rests upon thechannels. In order to enable the brace to be welded to the rib withoutheating the rib, I preferably form ears 18, each of which is integralwith a channel, and is bent to lie along the adjacent channel of thebrace, so that the ear can be welded as by spot welding to the brace.

Such a rudder frame as I have described, utilizing my said element,abundantly stands the strains put upon it. When the rudder post isturned, sa in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7, t e tendency is toseparate the brace from the rudder post on the righthand side, as seenin Fig. 7, but the welding of the rib to the band of the clamp at thispoint prevents such separation. At the same time, the tendency is tocause the left-hand sdof the rib to crush in the straight wall of' therudder post, and this is resisted by the lip 13 on the rib andtheshoulder 9 bearing on the plane face of the rudder post. I iigd that oneof my elements used as a brace connecting the ribs, prevents the saidribs from twistingn By the term beam,7 as used in this specification, Ihave intended to include not onl straight beams, but beams which arecurve and not only beams which are of uniform cross-section throughout,but beams which vary in cross-section.' I also mean to include by thatterm not only the main beams running longitudinally of the wings, butbraces, struts, and other members of the frame subjected, or which maybe subjected, to compression or bending, etc.

The features of my invention which are illustrated in the rudder-frameare applicable to ailerons and elevators and other sur- 4faces which aremovable .relative tothe frame of the airplane.

I claim:

1\}1An element for beams, consisting of a chanel having lattice workformed integral therewith, and projecting at an angle to the web of saidchannel, said element bein formed of a single piece of sheet meta 2. Abeam consisting of the combination of two elements, each elementconsisting of a channel and lattice work formed integral therewith, saidparts being formed of sheet metal, each element being formed of a singlepiece of sheet metal.

3. A beam consisting of the combination of two elements, saidelementsbeing formed of a single piece of sheet metal, each elementconsisting of a channel and lattice work integral with each othe-r, thelattice work being dished or beaded.

4. A beam consistin of the combination of two elements, said e ementsbeing formed of a single piece of sheet metal, each element consistingof ay channel and lattice work integral witheach other, the channelbeing corrugated.

5. A beam consisting of the combination of two elements, Igaiid elementsbeing formed of sheet metal, each element consisting of la channel andlattice work integral with each other, the lattice wo-rk being dished orbeaded, and the channel being corrugated.

6. A beam consisting of two elements, said elements being formed of asingle piece of sheet material, each of said elements consisting of achannel and lattice -work formed integral with one wall of the channel,the free ends of the lattice work being secured to a wall of theopposite channel.

7. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of a.rudder post and rib, said rib comprising two opiposite channelsconnected by lattice wor 8. A framework for airplane rudders,

comprising the combination of a rudderv post and rib, said ribcomprising two opposite channels connected by lattice work, and allformed in one piece of sheet material.

9. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of aD-shape rudder post, a rib comprising channels connected bysheetmaterial,l said sheet material being formed into a lip to rest againstthe fiat face of said rudder post, and means connecting said channelswith said rudder ost. P 10. A framework for airplane 'rudders,comprising the combination of a D-shape rudder post, a rib comprisingchannels connected Iby sheet material, said sheet material being formedinto a lip to restv against the flat face of said rudder post, and meansconnecting said channels "with said rudder post, said means comprisingstrips extending from said channels along said rudder ost. p 11. Aframework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of a D-shaperudder post, a rib comprising channels, `and a clamp embracing said ruder post and lying within said channels.

12. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination rudderpost, a rib comprising channels, and a clamp embracing said rudder post'and lying within said channels, said rib having a lip adapted to liealong the flat face of said rudder post. Y

13. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising the combinatio-n of aD-shape rudder post, a rib comprising channels, and a clamp embracingsaid rudder post and lying within said channels, said clamp havingshoulders adapted to lie against the fiat face of said rudder post.

v14K. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of aD-shape rudder post, a rib comprising channels, and a clamp embracingsaid rudder post and lying within said channels, said rib having a lipadapted to lie along the flat-face of said rudder post, said clamphaving shoulders adapted to lie against the fiat face of said rudderpost.

15. A Jframework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of aD-shape rudder post, a rib comprising channels, and having a shoulderadapted to lie against the fiat face of said rudder post,'a clampsurrounding said rudder post and having ends extending into saidchannels, and strips extending from said channels along said clamp.

16. A framework comprising the combination of 'a D-shape rudder post, arib comprising channels, and having a shoulder adapted to lie againstthe fiat face of said rudder post, a clamp surroiindingsaid rudder postand having ends extending into said channels, and Strips extending fromsaid channels alon said clamp, said clamp having shoulders a apted tolie against the flat face of said rudder post.

17. A frame-work for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of aD-shape rudder post, a rib comprising channels, a clamp surroundingsaidl rudder post and having ends extendingl into said channels, andstri s extending yfrom said channels along said clamp, said clamp havingshoulders, and said rib having a lip adapted to lie against the flatface of said rudder post.

18. A framework for airplane rudders, comprisingthe combination of aD-shape rudder post,-a rib comprising channels, a clamp surrounding saidrudder post and having ends extending into Said channels, and stripsextending from said channels along said clamp, ders, and said rib havinga lip adapted to lie against the flat face of said rudder post, saidclamp having wings adapted to rest upon metal connecting said channels.

19. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising the combination of aframe, a rudder post, a plurality of ribs connectin said rudder post tosaid ribs, each ri said clamp having shoul.

for airplane rudders,

consisting of sheet metal channels connected Ufo together, and a braceconnecting said ribs, said brace comprising sheet metal Channelsconnected together.

20. A framework for airplane rudders, comprising a rudder post, aplurality of ribs connected to said rudder post, said ribs comprisingchannels connected by sheet metal, a brace connecting said ribs, saidbrace comprising channels connected by sheet`V metal, said brace lyingbetween the channels of each rib, and each/channel of each rib hav` ingan ear formed thereon` and adapted to llie along a channel of said braceto afford means for securing the brace to the adjacent channel.

21. An element for aerofoils formed of sheet metal, substantiallyrectangular in Cross-section having top and bottom portions formedl ofcontinuous and unperforated sheet metal and integral web portionsbetween the top and bottom portions having metal cut away to providestruts and interstrut openings, the meta] comprising the said strutsbeing increased in widthat the middle portion thereof and reduced atopposite ends7 and the edges of said struts being bent at an angle tothe plane of the web or strut to provide marginal wings as and for thepurpose s ecifed.

In testimony that claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT L. WHITTEMORE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN J. PRINDLE, RUTH J. RIEMAN.

